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Title: Plasma-cathode-initiated vacuum gap closure

Abstract

The properties of vacuum gap closure initiated by a plasma cathode are presented. The plasma cathode consisted of approximately 60 surface flashover sites distributed over a 10-cm{sup 2} area. Vacuum gap dimensions were 1{times}7.5 cm in diameter. Faraday cup measurements indicated an ion density greater than 10{sup 12} cm{sup {minus}3}, which was controllable by the amplitude of the initiating high-voltage pulse. Although the field-free expansion velocity of the plasma was measured to be 7 cm/{mu}s, plasma-cathode-initiated closure of the vacuum gap indicated closure speeds on the order of 0.5 cm/{mu}s. Also, increased injected ion density and increased anode-cathode potential resulted in increased closure velocity.

Authors:
;  [1];  [2]
  1. Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM (USA)
  2. Sandia National Laboratories, P. O. Box 5800, Albuquerque, NM (USA)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
6412868
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Journal of Applied Physics; (USA)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 68:5; Journal ID: ISSN 0021-8979
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY; ELECTRIC DISCHARGES; SPARK GAPS; CATHODES; CLOSURES; ELECTRON BEAMS; FARADAY CUPS; ION DENSITY; PLASMA; RELATIVISTIC RANGE; BEAM MONITORS; BEAMS; ELECTRODES; ENERGY RANGE; LEPTON BEAMS; MEASURING INSTRUMENTS; MONITORS; PARTICLE BEAMS; 700101* - Fusion Energy- Plasma Research- Confinement, Heating, & Production

Citation Formats

Sampayan, S E, Gurbaxani, S H, and Buttram, M T. Plasma-cathode-initiated vacuum gap closure. United States: N. p., 1990. Web. doi:10.1063/1.346557.
Sampayan, S E, Gurbaxani, S H, & Buttram, M T. Plasma-cathode-initiated vacuum gap closure. United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.346557
Sampayan, S E, Gurbaxani, S H, and Buttram, M T. 1990. "Plasma-cathode-initiated vacuum gap closure". United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.346557.
@article{osti_6412868,
title = {Plasma-cathode-initiated vacuum gap closure},
author = {Sampayan, S E and Gurbaxani, S H and Buttram, M T},
abstractNote = {The properties of vacuum gap closure initiated by a plasma cathode are presented. The plasma cathode consisted of approximately 60 surface flashover sites distributed over a 10-cm{sup 2} area. Vacuum gap dimensions were 1{times}7.5 cm in diameter. Faraday cup measurements indicated an ion density greater than 10{sup 12} cm{sup {minus}3}, which was controllable by the amplitude of the initiating high-voltage pulse. Although the field-free expansion velocity of the plasma was measured to be 7 cm/{mu}s, plasma-cathode-initiated closure of the vacuum gap indicated closure speeds on the order of 0.5 cm/{mu}s. Also, increased injected ion density and increased anode-cathode potential resulted in increased closure velocity.},
doi = {10.1063/1.346557},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6412868}, journal = {Journal of Applied Physics; (USA)},
issn = {0021-8979},
number = ,
volume = 68:5,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1990},
month = {Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1990}
}